By Denner Vineyards
2021 Dirt Worshipper

Blend
88% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Graciano, 1% Viognier

Tasting Notes
Powerful aromas of violets, blueberries, sarsaparilla, Kalamata olive, and wild mint exude from the glass. The midpalate is dripping with blackberry, hoisin, white pepper, Spanish chorizo, and dark chocolate notes that evolve into a rich mouthfeel and a stunningly long finish.

Wine Specs
Vintage: 2021
Vineyards: Bassetti Vineyard, Denner Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Zotovich Vineyard, Duvarita Vineyard, Slide Hill Vineyard, Bassi Vineyard
Bottling Date: 5/3/23; bottled unfined and unfiltered
Cooperage: Aged 18 months in new 225-L French and Hungarian oak barrels and used 225-L barrels

Fermentation
Three-day cold-soak with twice daily pump-overs. 12-day native fermentation with a mix of delestages and pump-overs for cap management. 15-day total maceration. Fermented 28% whole cluster.

Technical Analysis
Alcohol: 14.20%
Acid: 6.1 g/l
pH: 3.64
[Information provided by Denner Vineyards]

Wine: 2021 Denner Vineyards Dirt Worshipper
Score/Rating: 98
Suggested Drinking Window: 2027 - 2039
Review Date: 08/15/2024
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck        
Tasting Notes: A more Syrah-dominated release, the 2021 Dirt Worshipper is textbook Syrah magic with is peppery, gamey dark fruits, iron, tapenade, sandalwood, and violet-laced aromas and flavors. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. Based on 88% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Graciano, and 1% Viognier that was fermented with [...] whole clusters and aged [...] in [...] French and Hungarian oak, it will probably merit a triple-digit rating in 4-5 years, and I’d be happy to put this up with the best Syrahs out there.

Wine: Denner Vineyards Central Coast Dirt Worshipper 2021
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: Best from 2028
Review Date: 05/14/2024
Reviewed By: Jim Gordon, Executive Editor
Tasting Notes: Potent and peppery, this blend of Syrah from distinct vineyards in the Central Coast of California is haunting, earthy, smoky and mysterious. It offers grilled meat, black pepper, green peppercorn, espresso and star anise components that are fascinating and complex. [...] With 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Graciano and 1% Viognier. Best from 2028.

Wine: Denner Vineyards 2021 Dirt Worshipper
Score/Rating: 96
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
Review Date: 06/2024
Reviewed By: Eric Guido
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Dirt Worshipper is impossible to ignore, blending incense with dried roses, white pepper and exotic spice. This impresses with its elegance and grace, washing across the palate with silken textures and ripe red and black fruits as a wave of juicy acidity adds lift. Violet inner florals resonate throughout. It tapers off spicy and incredibly long, embraced by a coating of fine-grained tannins that tug at the senses as a resonance of clove lingers on. Simply spellbinding, this is unmistakably New World fruit, yet with an Old Word soul.

Wine: Denner, Dirt Worshipper, Central Coast, California, USA 2021
Score/Rating: 95 
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035
Review Date: 12/14/2023
Reviewed By: Jonathan Cristaldi
Tasting Notes: The Dirth [sic] Worshipper is a blend of 88% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Graciano, and 1% Viognier, co-fermented, bringing in some pretty aromatics. The wine is aged 18 months [...] French and Hungarian oak [...] - a fashionable red blend with bright floral aromatics, cranberry and black cherry fruit and cedarwood spices. Medium to full-bodied, sporting a deep core of earthy minerals infused with red-berry fruits and intricate, woven tannins that build with a crescendo of brambly berry fruit to a finish marked by a firm spine of acidity and nuanced expressive fine herbs, white pepper, clove, and dried rose petal florals. The intensity of the finish is downright exciting and surprising, leaving one immediately wanting another sip to see where it's going.

Wine: 2021 Denner Vineyards Dirt Worshipper
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040
Review Date: 12/29/2023
Reviewed By: Erin Brooks
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Dirt Worshipper is a co-fermented blend of 88% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Graciano and 1% Viognier. It comes from several California vineyards, including Duvarita, Bien Nacido, Slide Hill and Denner estate fruit. It has pretty aromas of cassis, cracked pepper, spearmint, violet and tar. The medium-bodied palate offers concentrated, mineral-driven fruit, a frame of powerful, rounded tannins and seamless freshness and a long, perfumed finish.

Wine: Denner 2021 Dirt Worshipper Syrah (Central Coast)
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 09/01/2024
Reviewed By: Matt Kettmann
Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of blueberry, charcoal and violet entertain the nose on this Syrah-based bottling that includes small bits of Petit Verdot, Graciano and Viognier. Blue and black fruit flavors are cleanly presented on the palate, with hints of lilac and a caramel finish completing the picture.

Wine: Denner Dirt Worshipper Central Coast 2021
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: Best from 2025 through 2031
Review Date: 10/31/2024
Reviewed By: Tim Fish 
Tasting Notes: Dense and brambly, offering brooding flavors of currant, herbes de Provence and savory spices that build tension and tannins on the finish. Syrah, Petit Verdot, Graciano and Viognier. Best from 2025 through 2031.